Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-08-20

American weather From that simple begin
ming Mr.. Erkenbrecher built on until thu
Zoo" Of today is the result, owned by a stock
company with capital of $2225, 600, which
. has spent $3.50. 600 on the grounds and their
beautifying and Improvement, and in the pur.
chase of animals for the instruction and
amusement Of the people Of Cincinnati and
the Ohio valley. The feature OF the instiiu.
tion is that it is emphaticaly not a money
making investment. 1t is expressly provided
that not dollar of dividends shall ever I've
divided among the stockholders. but all prof
Its shall lie put into improvements and the
purchase Of animals for the garden
Forty five acres of pasture field, out on the
hilltops, some miles from Foultain square
the central point from which all Cincinnatians
begin departure for every place but heaven,
have been transformed into beautiful park
in the thirteen years since the Geological gar
den as a fixed institution succeeded to the Ac-
climatizsIion society. In the matter Of varie-
ties of trees few parks or gardens in the country
excel it,yet comparatively little time or money
has been spent in ornamentation, the aim
having been to pay especial attention 10 the
selection Of rare and valuable animals In
that particular it probably leads all the gar
dens in the United States, while the more
common varieties are, of course, very fully
represented also. from the unwieldy baby"
hippopotamus down to prairie dogs and
rattlesnskes. Here are to be seen probably
the finest specimens OF buffalo in the
world those late ~Inonarchs Of the western
plains" that have been 50 recently
hunted out Of existence where they were
supposed to live in countless millions only
f.u Tho at Si,o b,,1l s..
nominally valued at 5000, but he could not
lie duplicated for s5Ooo0 Several calves
have been sold and considerable revenue
obtained in that way. but hereaf er they will
Ire kept The only ground hornbill in Ameri-
ca is kept in a big cage in the aviary, recent
importation from Africa, worth perhaps $500
or more. but which, in spite of his price, would
have rather suggestion of the vulture and
turkey buzzard in his appearance if it was
not for the gorgeous and unique collection of
bric-a -brsc carried around on his heal and
mostly on his bill and the formidable name
of Buc. Abyssinius upon his door plate. A
black wolf is another rare animal and proba-
bly could not be duplicated for any reason
able price-n anybody really wanted a mate
% the one here. A couple OF great, shaggy,
grayi>h white Polar bears are said TO be
WI III S-,ppb apieSc ho". bLouAh oulN
inches high when brought here. They form
a conspicuous part Of what is said to be the
finest collection of bears in America, al least
in the United States
And as for giraffes, the Cincinnati garden
has the largest one in captivity, mild look
ing aggregation of long neck and longer legs,
the two Of which couldn't he replaced for
&2o,0o3 if they should pass of in a fatal at
tack Of quinsy. and which always make
Adam Forepaugn green with envy
when be sees them, as he often does.
A singular feature Of these animals
is that they are perfectly mute. With such
a length of throat one is at a loss TO know
whether inability to give voice 10 the feelings
should be a source Of regret or self gretula-
ton, point on which tine giraffe has always
been silent. Despite quiet manners and mild
looks, the giraffe is one OF the very worst fel-
lows TO fight that has ever been heard from,
for he carries on a triangular battle, strik-
ing eith his head simultaneously with his
fore feet, while he is kicking with his hind
feet as quickly and as heavily as "A half dozen
mules rolled into one Nobody ever cares to
have the second quarrel with giraffe.